Morristown 1779: when Mother Nature nearly ended American independence

The Continental Army’s Brutal Winter at Jockey Hollow

The winter of 1779-1780 nearly broke the Continental Army.

While camped at Jockey Hollow near Morristown, 10,000 soldiers faced what might be the worst winter of the century. Snow fell in 28 storms, with six full blizzards dumping four feet of snow.

The cold got so bad that New York Harbor froze solid enough for British troops to walk from Manhattan to Staten Island. Meanwhile, food ran out.

Men went days without meals, some ate shoe leather, and a few officers even killed and ate a pet dog. Yet somehow, most lived.

The reconstructed soldier huts at Morristown National Historical Park tell this story of raw grit that helped win American freedom.

Washington Picked Morristown for His Freezing Army

On December 1, 1779, George Washington set up his winter camp at Morristown, New Jersey. About 10,000 Continental Army soldiers walked through foot-deep snow to nearby Jockey Hollow.

Washington picked this spot because it sat between New York and Philadelphia, with the Watchung Mountains blocking British attacks. The area had plenty of wood and water.

Washington had camped there before in 1777. The general stayed in the cozy Ford Mansion while his men got ready for their toughest winter yet.

Soldiers Built a Log Cabin City While Shivering

The Continental Army cut down over 2,000 acres of trees to build more than 1,200 log huts in the freezing December cold. Each hut measured 14 feet wide by 16 feet long and stood just 6.

5 feet high, with 12 men squeezed into each one. They lined up their huts in rows of eight with three or four rows per regiment.

Officers got their own huts behind the soldiers’ quarters. The men built simple beds and tables.

The huts had dirt floors and small fireplaces for heat.

Mother Nature Unleashed Her Worst Winter in Memory

The winter of 1779-1780 turned out to be one of the coldest ever. People called it “the hard winter” for good reason.

Morristown got hit with 28 snowstorms during the army’s six-month stay. Six of these storms were full-blown blizzards.

Every saltwater inlet from North Carolina to Canada froze solid. New York Harbor froze so thick that British soldiers walked from Manhattan to Staten Island.

A huge two-day blizzard in early January dropped four feet of snow, with piles over six feet high.

Food Supplies Dwindled to Almost Nothing

Washington sent an urgent letter to Congress on December 16, 1779, warning that “The situation of the Army with respect to supplies is beyond description alarming.

” His men had lived on “half allowance” for almost six weeks with only “three days Bread” left. Washington feared his army might “simply disband.

” The Continental money had become nearly worthless, making it hard to buy food from local farmers. Farmers often refused to sell their goods for worthless paper money.

Benedict Arnold Faced Court-Martial While Soldiers Froze

As soldiers huddled in their huts trying to survive, Benedict Arnold stood trial at Dickerson Tavern in Morristown. His court-martial ran from December 23, 1779, until January 26, 1780.

Arnold faced charges of misusing his military power for personal gain. The court found him guilty on two of four charges.

His punishment? A simple scolding from Washington.

Few knew that Arnold had already started plotting his treason while this trial took place.

Hunger Drove Men to Eat Their Shoes

By January 5, 1780, General Nathanael Greene wrote that “The Army is upon the eve of disbanding for want of Provisions.”

Private Joseph Plumb Martin later wrote that soldiers went without food for days: “We were absolutely literally starved; I did not put a single morsel of victuals into my mouth for four days and as many nights.” Some hungry men roasted and ate their old shoes. Others chewed on black birch bark.

A few officers killed and ate a pet dog.

The Breaking Point Nearly Came in January

Joseph Plumb Martin wrote that soldiers spent their days “venting our spleen at our country and government, then at our officers, and then at ourselves for our imbecility in staying there and starving in detail for an ungrateful people.

” A Congressional committee found soldier patience “on the point of being exhausted” after enduring “every degree of conceivable hardship.

” About 96-100 soldiers died at Morristown, far fewer than the 2,000 who died at Valley Forge.

Lafayette Brought News of French Help

The mood lifted on May 10, 1780, when the Marquis de Lafayette arrived at Ford Mansion. Washington greeted his young French friend warmly.

Lafayette brought great news: France would send 6,000 soldiers under Count de Rochambeau plus six warships. Lafayette had spent over a year in France talking King Louis XVI into sending this extra help.

Washington asked Lafayette to write to state officials, asking them to provide more troops and supplies.

Connecticut Troops Mutinied Over Empty Stomachs

Food shortages reached a breaking point on May 25 when the 8th Connecticut Regiment started a protest at dusk. The mutiny quickly spread to the 3rd, 4th, and 6th Connecticut Regiments.

The trouble began after an argument between Colonel Return Jonathan Meigs and his Connecticut soldiers. The hungry men planned to march out of camp to look for food.

Colonel Walter Stewart of Pennsylvania talked them into going back to their huts. During the commotion, Colonel Meigs got accidentally stabbed in the side.

Spring Thawed Both Ground and Spirits

As winter finally let go and spring arrived, things slowly got better for the Continental Army. The frozen ground thawed, making it easier to dig for roots and find food.

The Continental Army left Jockey Hollow as a stronger fighting force.

The winter brought one happy note: Alexander Hamilton met his future wife Elizabeth Schuyler during the camp. The army stuck together despite all the terrible conditions they faced.

The Army Marched Away Toward Victory

The Continental Army finally broke camp on June 8, 1780, ending their ordeal in what proved to be the worst winter the army endured during the entire Revolutionary War.

French reinforcements under Count de Rochambeau landed in Rhode Island just a month later on July 10. The survival of Washington’s army through this terrible winter became an important symbol of American persistence.

Despite all the conditions that threatened to tear the army apart, the Patriot forces held together.

Within 15 months, this battle-hardened army would help trap Cornwallis at Yorktown, securing the American victory that led to independence.

Visiting Morristown National Historical Park, New Jersey

You can explore where 10,000 Continental Army soldiers survived the brutal winter of 1779-1780 at two free locations.

Visit Washington’s Headquarters Museum at 30 Washington Place to see the Ford Mansion where Washington stayed. Then head to Jockey Hollow Visitor Center at 586 Tempe Wick Road to see reconstructed soldier huts.

Museums open Thursday-Sunday 10am-4pm, park grounds daily 8am-8pm. Ford Mansion tours start at the museum with free first-come tickets.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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